The cat sanctuary helping volunteers find mental wellness

SHERWOOD, Ore. (InvestigateTV) - Giving time through volunteer work can make a big difference for the cause, but also for the volunteer. Research shows volunteering can offer benefits for mental health.The Mayo Clinic says it can reduce stress and increase feel-good hormones in the brain. Volunteering can also provide purpose.At the Cat Alliance Team Sanctuary in Sherwood, Oregon, it’s hard to tell the difference between who’s helping and who’s being helped. The volunteers say they get so much out of their time there.The sanctuary houses 140 cats. Every room has 15 to 25 cats. One room has more feral cats because it will be their forever home.The cats may not appear to be picture perfect pets. Hobbit was born with no eyelids. Tommy has an underbite. One cat was adopted once, but kept attacking the other cat, so the sanctuary took him back.Every cat has a story and a name. Reatha Larson knows them all.“I manage the kitties that live here. Most of them are unadoptable. That’s what we wer